232 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



body whether voluntary or not. Thus the heart, and the 

 muscles of respiration, are equally, with the voluntary 

 muscles, dependant on the action of the brain. The or- 

 gans of mastication and digestion are also under the same 

 influence. 



731. In every series of actions, therefore, which take 

 place in any part of the whole system, there is a mutual 

 sympathy and dependance on some other part. 



MUSCULAR EXERCISES OF THE CLERGY AND OTHER LITERARY 

 MEN. 



732. And now we come to the more especial object of 

 this part of our work, which is, to show that the vigorous 

 functions of the brain cannot long be sustained, without a 

 corresponding exertion of the muscles, and that this exer- 

 tion absolutely requires that the brain should be more or 

 less excited. We intend that these doctrines should apply 

 more particularly to students and literary men, and we 

 shall begin by showing the duty of ministers of the gos- 

 pel in respect to bodily exercise. The present condition 

 of the clergy and other literary men of our country, points 

 to the vast importance of seeking some remedy against the 

 consequences of literary pursuits, and sedentary habits, on 

 their corporeal and mental functions. Not only ministers 

 of all ages, but students, only a few years advanced in 

 their studies, are constantly "breaking down" as it is 

 termed, under the pressure of their literary burdens; 

 many of the first class being obliged to go to Europe, or 

 otherwise suspend their labors in order to recruit their 

 w T ornout frames, and rest awhile from their cerebral occu- 

 pation ; while perhaps an equal number of the last find 

 themselves under the necessity of retiring entirely from 

 the field of literary pursuits, and of seeking some employ- 

 ment in which less is required of the nervous, and more of 

 the muscular system ; and thus the literary or ministerial 

 services of many young men of great promise, and whose 

 labors and influence would be highly important to the 

 church, or the interests of education, are in a great meas- 

 ure lost to the country. 



